A marine of the Belliqueuse gave me a full account of the
position of the armies and particulars of the battle. We soon
met with some of the 59th, one a corporal, who often joins us in
singing, and who gave the pleasing intelligence that the
regiment had escaped unhurt, except Captain McPherson. In the
rear of the enemy's army there were some farm-houses, which we
had converted into a receptacle for the sick, and in which there
were already two hundred, chiefly English, with a few of the
enemy. Here I entered, and found that six officers were wounded;
but as the surgeon said they should not be disturbed, I did not
go in, especially as they were not dangerously wounded. In one
room I found a Dutch captain wounded, with whom I had a good
deal of conversation in French. After a few questions about the
army and the Cape, I could not help inquiring about Dr.
Vanderkemp; he said he had seen him, but believed he was not at
the Cape, nor knew how I might hear of him. The spectacle at
these houses was horrid. The wounded soldiers lay ranged within
and without covered with blood and gore. While the India troops
remained here, I walked out into the field of battle with the
surgeon. On the right wing, where they had been attacked by the
Highland regiment, the dead and wounded seemed to have been
strewed in great numbers, from the knapsacks, &c. Some of them
were still remaining; with a Frenchman whom I found amongst them
I had some conversation. All whom we approached cried out
instantly for water. One poor Hottentot I asked about Dr.
Vanderkemp, I saw by his manner that he knew him; he lay with
extraordinary patience under his wound on the burning sand; I
did what I could to make his position comfortable, and laid near
him some bread, which I found on the ground. Another Hottentot
lay struggling with his mouth in the dust, and the blood flowing
out of it, cursing the Dutch in English, in the most horrid
language; I told him he should rather forgive them, and asked
him about God, and after telling him of the Gospel, begged he
would pray to Jesus Christ; but he did not attend. While the
surgeon went back to get his instrument in hopes of saving the
man's life, a Highland soldier came up, and asked me in a rough
tone, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'An Englishman;' he said, 'No,
no, you are French,' and was going to present his musket. As I
saw he was rather intoxicated, and might in mere wantonness
fire, I went up to him and told him that if he liked he might
take me prisoner to the English army, but that I was certainly
an English clergyman. The man was pacified at last. The surgeon
on his return found the thigh bone of the poor Hottentot broken,
and therefore left him to die. After this I found an opportunity
of retiring, and lay down among the bushes, and lifted up my
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